How life has changed in East Hampshire

East Hampshire's population increased by about 6,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of East Hampshire increased by 5.8%, from about 109,000 to 116,000.

The addition of about 6,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Hampshire was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Hampshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Hampshire increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 13.0% of people in East Hampshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and East Hampshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in East Hampshire that rented privately increased from 8.6% to 11.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12.0%) households lived in social housing, compared with 11.4% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire households that owned their home decreased from 77.5% to 73.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. But despite the improvement, East Hampshire remained less healthy than the regional average 16.5% in the South East described their health as good in 2011).

Private renting in East Hampshire increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Hampshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in East Hampshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in East Hampshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.0 points.

In 2011, 28.4% of respondents in East Hampshire gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in East Hampshire, 69.9% said they were Christian, compared with 82.4% in 2001. About 0.5% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Muslim increased from 0.3% to 0.4%.

In East Hampshire, 7.5% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.5% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in East Hampshire increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and East Hampshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in East Hampshire

The percentage of East Hampshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.2% to 7.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.7% to 89.9%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Hampshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.9% to 12.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in East Hampshire decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Hampshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Hampshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.0% to 3.7% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74.1% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.9% to 11.2%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Hampshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Hampshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in East Hampshire

In 2011, 96.6% of East Hampshire residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.6% of people in East Hampshire said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 1.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.5%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in East Hampshire decreased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and East Hampshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in East Hampshire with children decreased from 30.9% to 29.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61.2%) households had no children, compared with 60.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in East Hampshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.8% to 9.4%.

The proportion of households with children fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in East Hampshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in East Hampshire, but at a slower rate than across England.

In East Hampshire, the proportion of single people increased from 23.9% in 2001 to 25.5% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28.5% to 32.1%.

The proportion of married people in East Hampshire fell from 58.7% to 56.1%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 11.1%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in East Hampshire, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.0% to 7.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (41.5%) households had a married couple, compared with 45.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in East Hampshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 8.5%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of East Hampshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.8% to 2.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.5%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 56.2% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire residents that were self-employed increased from 11.7% to 13.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of East Hampshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 1.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in East Hampshire remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and East Hampshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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